Potato digger



Dec. 25,1923. 1 1,478,952

R. H. HANKS POTATO DIGGER Filed Aug. 19, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

[Biz flanks ATTORNEY.

- R. H. HANKS romeo BIGGER Filed Aug. 19, 19 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. fiEfian/nr ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25 1923. 1,478,952

R. H. HANKS POTATO BIGGER .mea Aug. 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet a Try. 3.

IN VEN TOR.

I REfiZI l s ATTORNEY.

Dec. 25, 1923.

' R. H. HANKS -POTATO BIGGER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

.Eiled Aug. 19, 1920 'INVENTOR.

R E-Mk IATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 25, 1923;

RAY H.-HA1\TKS, orinmvmz'mrn, OKLAHOMA.

POTATO BIGGER.

. Application filed August 19; 1920." Serial No. 404,508.

To all wltom z'tmdy concern) a Be it known that I, RAY H. HANKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Henryetta, in the county of Okmulgee and.

State of Oklahoma, haWe invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato Diggers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionv of the invention, such as will enablev others skilled in the art to which it appe'rtains is make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain newv and useful improvements in a potato digger and has for its primary object the provision of I an improved form of potato digger which will effectively separate the potatoes from the dirt as theformer are raisedto position upon an elevator. V a i The invention has for another object the provision of a potato digger of the above stated character in which the operative parts will be mounted'ina simple form of frame and the potato dig ing' and raising elements readily adjusted or eflicient operation of the machine.

The invention has for another object, the provision of a otato digger which is composed of the minimum number of operative I parts and arranged in such a manner that all '30 of the parts may cooperate to the highest extent, all of the operatlve parts being driven from the forward axle or main axles of the machine.

The invention has for a still further object, 5 the provision of a potato digger of the above stated character in which the plow or digging member together with the small colters and the forward end of the potato raising or gathering member may be readily adjusted verticallyas may be desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view-of the machine with the parts in operative position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation with parts broken away. I

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section through the forward portion of the machine. Y

'ployed.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the driving connection between the gatherin mechanism and the conveyor. eferring more in detail to the drawings, in which similar reference charactersdesig nate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, 1 designates the rotatable shaft on which the ground wheels'2 are rigidly mounted so that the shaft 1 serves as the axle ofthe machine. A maini'longitudinal frame 3'is' mounted attheforward portion on the axle shaft 1 and has the rear ground tion,;th e wheelsl i being mounted in; a suitable mannerjon thepivot shafts 5 having the wheels 4 positioned beneath the rear end porf upwardly and. forwardly directed supports 6 which are swiveled in a suitable manner in the rear portion of the side membersof the main frame 3 so that the machine may i be readily turned to either side. A suitable draft tongue? is connected at its rear end with the connecting links 8 which are extended in diverging directions and pivotally connected to the forward corners of the main frame 3, as shown at 9. The suitable doubletree 10 or the like is carried by thedraft tongue 7, as shown at 11 and has single trees 12 mounted thereon so that four or more draft'animals maybe harnessed to the ma- 2 y chine. This machine is shown as being constructed to be drawn by four draft animals but any other suitable number may be em- The axle shaft 1 has the driving gear wheel 13 mounted thereon at one side of the the axle shaft 1. The seat 14 is mounted on the frame 3 above the axle-shaft 1 and preferably over one side of the frame, as shown in the drawings. I i I V I a An upper transverse shaftv 19 for the endless potato gathering member, which is designated in general by the numeral 20, is mounted in the main frame 3 and extended transversely thereof, said shaft 19 having a gear 21 on one end meshing with the drive gear 13 of the axle shaft 1. The lower shaft 'main frame 3 and adapted for rotationwith I 22 of the potatofgatherer 20 is mounted for I rotation in a pair of pivoted suspending bracket members 23, which have their upper ends pivoted tothe forward portion of the f main frame 3, forwardly of the axle shaft 1.

A pair of small colter wheels or discs 24 cooperate withthe plow point or digger 25 and are journaled on [a transverse member seen that by adjusting thelever-29 the lower end of the potat igatherer 2O as well as, the

of the wheel and make itmuch, easier for: the.

potato gatherer 20 to gather up the potatoes,

as will be later clearly understood. D i'g'ger 25 is journaled on an offset or deflectedpor;

tion of bar 26 asshown. Ajointed raising bar 2 s ee e letone end t e i er 25 hi e, i pp teendisafieidly qnneqts vitha Short aft. 8 h hiha t e raisin and lowering lever '29 connectedwith oneend and carried on the rack 3o of conven;

tion al eform. The rack is provided for co a operation with the spring latch to l'oclgthe lever 29 in position." It will: therefore be ploivpoint ordig re-r 25 and thebolter memg ber 24; may be reafiily raised or lowered and p e in P p r P i on. r fiectir per; ation of the machine.

While the complete construction V and op; ich of t i ac ne aybe ea lmap-i, parent, it may be stated that,after properadjustment of the lever 29 to plac e'the plow P nt di 25 a d Gol er l filhhQIS 24:35..

h P QPQ a n m hine v1 w. be driven along a row of potato hills and owing to perative r t in c ntrol e b by-it on h axle shaftvl, the PQtemsex-i,

cavated or thrown up from the ground will be caught by the potato gatherer 20 and eletvatedfthe greatergportion of .the dirt droppin through the potato gatherer 20. hike the preferred embodiment of the invention has.fbeengshown and described it will be understood that minor changes in the details oihonstrriction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to with 'inthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. What is claimed inga movable crossbar, a digger member adjustable'through movement of the cross bar, coltersion said cross bar cooperating with the digger member, and means to adjust the digger inemherfto different heights and on said'oross bar. 7 i

V 2'." A"maohine of the class described havin brackets, a digger member,v a cross bar,

said digger member resting against the cross.

,bar said"icross bar having a deflected portion to vary the position 'ofthe digger member .thr ough'its movement, a conveyor assoto drive said'conveyor' on said cross bar.

in presence (of two witnesses.

Jj Kinonmi In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature I ciate'davith 'the digger member, and means 

